Conflict

Russian Military in Syria

Incident Code

RS1662

Location

حرستا, Harasta, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.55869, 36.36515
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: September 25, 2025

(Previous Incident Codes: R1520RS1659)

As many as five civilians were reportedly killed – including up to three children – in alleged artillery and airstrikes “from the surrounding mountains” which struck Harasta. Both women and children were reportedly among the “dozens wounded” in the raid.

Some sources such as LCCSY have blamed Russian warplanes the for alleged bombing, however other sources  blamed the Syrian regime. Sada4press reported that the shelling came from “armed groups”, thereby not specifying a particular belligerent.

According to Breakingnews, there were as many as 25 rockets launched in the vicinity. Other sources, however, reported that thermobaric missiles were also used in the raid. 

Sources were conflicted as to the number of civilians killed in the incident. AljasemCom posted an image of a young boy who was allegedly killed in the raid. 

Mohamad.alshaar.harasta named one victim.

LCCSY named two different names as did the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Additionally, another source reported that there were four casualties from the event which is the highest toll reported. 

Victims

Individuals

Yasser Faroun
male nicknamed Abu Muhammad Harb killed
Shahd
Child female killed
Sondos Deyab
Child female killed
Marwa Sheikh Hasana
killed
Suleiman Arabi
killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
2–5
2–3 Children, 1 Woman
Civilians reported injured
2–24

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Harasta (حرستا), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.55869, 36.36515. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

Russian Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Russian Military
Russian Military position on incident
Not yet assessed
Russian Military Strike Report
Russia has not reported any specific strikes between November 1st – 30th 2016. On 6 January 2017, Russia, however, reported: “Since November 8, 2016, the aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet consisting of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the large ASW ship Severomorsk, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, has been fulfilling counterterrorist missions on the territory of Syria”, adding that ”in the course of two months of their participation in the combat actions, naval aviation pilots have carried out 420 combat sorties, 117 of them were night ones.”
Syrian Regime Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Syrian Regime
Syrian Regime position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (2)